Grout scrubbing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A grout scrubbing apparatus which can be used while standing up, having a solution delivery mechanism using a solution container, a delivery nozzle, and a movable, detachable grout scrubbing brush, and a method for cleaning grout and for caring for hard flooring using the same grout scrubber apparatus.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of the provisional patent application No. 60/477340 filed Jun. 11, 2003 with the United States Patent Office.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] No Federal money or grant was used in the development of this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning grout in between stone and tile flooring surfaces, which can be converted into a device to clean the stone and tile in between the grout. Although there are many brushes and grout cleaning systems in the prior art, and many floor cleaning systems, none of them has the simplicity and effectiveness of the subject invention which can both clean grout and the floor surfaces themselves so effectively.

[0004] The invention is especially suitable for undertaking extensive grout and floor cleaning because it has the capacity to allow the grout cleaning brush to be used for extensive periods of time without having to rinse and clean it. Also, it has the advantage of being able to easily convert from a grout cleaner to a floor cleaner when necessary to complete the floor care process.

[0005] There is currently a need for a low cost, easily used brush system to clean extensive areas where grout needs cleaning. There is also a need for a device which is able to convert from a grout cleaning system to a floor cleaning system easily. The use of stone and tile floors is increasing, especially in upscale homes and the need to frequently clean the grout in between the tiles and stone is a well known problem without any current satisfactory solution.

[0006] Currently available grout cleaning systems generally fall into three main classes: One system utilizes simple brushes connected to varying handle configurations such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,262,334, Nov. 11, 1941, Rugaard, United States (US) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,590, Jun. 5, 2001, Nesbit, United States (US). Another basic category contains multiple parts which must be custom manufactured, assembled and fit together making a unit which is expensive to manufacture, maintain and operate, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,033,222, Jul. 23, 1912, Whitehead, United States (US). The third system typically is a hand held device which is generally very labor intensive to use, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,807,281, May 26, 1931, Cross, United States (US) and D378959, Apr. 29, 1997, Gringer, United States (US).

[0007] There is a need for a grout cleaning apparatus which is simple to manufacture, is easily to learn how to operate, and can be easily operated and maintained. There is also a need for an apparatus which can easily be converted from a grout cleaning device to a tile or stone cleaning device. This invention meets those requirements.

[0008] Historical attempts to address some or all of the above limitations are reflected in the following prior art:

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,827, Mar. 17, 1981, Palazzo, United States (US) is an example of some of the types of systems previously issued patents have disclosed in an attempt to clean uneven surfaces. Unfortunately, these other systems do not clean grout effectively because grout cleaning requires a very rough brush system which if used on the adjacent tile or stone may damage them.

[0010] Many liquid dispensing devices for floor machines have been patented. Some such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,152, Jun. 18, 1963, Kenny, United States (US) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,920, Nov. 23, 1999, Kunkler, United States (US) are complicated and expensive to manufacture. Others, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,006, Mar. 30, 1999, Ping et. al, United States (US) is a cleaning implement with a liquid delivery system but it uses a cleaning fabric which does not effectively reach the grout in between tile and stone surfaces on tile or stone flooring. Still others have bulky liquid solution holders which must be filled in a time consuming manner such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,386, Oct. 10, 1978, Cushing, United States, (US). Others do not hold sufficient solution and it is not easy to change solutions when desired, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,467983, Oct. 22, 2002, Fodrocy, United States (US).

[0011] The use of universal joints to connect mop and pad systems is well known in the art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,471, Nov. 20, 1990, Garcia, United States, (US). But none of these prior inventions has the combination found herein which is as effective for cleaning grout.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,508, Oct. 5, 1999, Holt et. al., United States (US) is a cleaning implement having a controlled fluid absorbancy, but the essence of the inventions involves wide pads of specific absorbancy which would not be as effective as the subject invention's use of a brush in cleaning the grout in tile and stone floors. Similar disadvantages are present in other apparatus patents which use pads, such as

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,298, Jun. 13, 2000, O'Brien, United States (US) is grout brush on a pivoting handle, but in order to use it, one must apply grout cleaning solution to the grout surface in order to clean it. The repetitive bending and pouring tends to induce fatigue and lengthens the time to complete the cleaning process. The subject invention avoids these disadvantages by allowing the grout cleaning solution to be disbursed on demand during the actual grout scrubbing process. Further, the ability to deliver cleaning solution as the bristles of the grout brush are scrubbing the grout with this subject invention increases the effectiveness of the cleaning solution and lessons the amount of solution necessary. This makes the subject invention more economical and easier to use.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,221, Jun. 20, 2000, Bradshaw, United States (US) is an adjustable grout cleaning brush with multiple brush constructions spaced in such a way that multiple lines of grout can be brushed at the same time. These brush constructions are complex and expensive to manufacture, and are more difficult to set up and learn to use in comparison to the subject invention disclosed here. Similar disadvantages are present with the Tile Joint Cleaning Brush U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,824, Jun. 14, 1994 Cook, United States (US) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,829, May 9, 1995, Hefner, United States, (US).

[0015] Various inventions are well known in the art which attempt to put a number of different brushes on one implement, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,784, Aug. 27, 2002, Yu, United States (US), U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,246, Mar. 20, 2001, Boucher, United States (US), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,471, Aug. 17, 1999, Liao, United States (US) but such combinations do not excel at cleaning grout as they are designed to be clean all surfaces. Grout cleaning requires a specialized apparatus to be effective.

[0016] Various means for attaching cleaning devices have been patented in the past, and their use and construction is well known in the art. But no invention has had the combination of features of the grout scrubber herein, which make it so effective for cleaning grout. The ability to attach other cleaning devices give added functionality so that only one implement is needed for complete stone and tile flooring when there is grout present between the flooring pieces.

[0017] This invention solves the above problems described in previous technology. It is easily to build, is rugged and easy to learn to use. By use of the removable brush attachment, various sizes of grout cleaning brushes can be used and the unit can be adapted easily to allow cleaning of the tile itself with a broad brush being attached in a perpendicular manner to the direction of the grout brush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] It is an object of the present invention to provide a grout cleaning apparatus having a grout brush connected to a removable handle, with a nozzle above the brush to allow grout cleaning solution to be released on demand onto the area under near the brush as it is applied to the grout.

[0019] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus wherein the grout brush can be removed and a cleaning pad attached for final cleaning, polishing and sealing of the grout and of the flooring adjacent to the grout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the grout cleaning apparatus embodying various features of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a front view of the removable attachment element for attaching the brush to the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Referring generally to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views:

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a front view of the grout cleaning apparatus showing the solution release trigger 101 at the top of the handle 102 connected to a vertical tube 108 having a cleaning solution mounting bracket 104 attached to the lower section of the tube 108. A grout cleaning solution container 105 containing grout cleaning solution 110 is inserted into the mounting bracket 104 and a fresh one is inserted when the old one is emptied. The bottom of the vertical tube 108 contains a universal joint detachable brush connector 112 to which a grout scrubbing brush 107 is attached. The grout scrubbing brush 107 can be of varying composition, widths and lengths to accommodate varying widths and types of grout. Attached at the upper end of the brush connector 112 is an exit opening nozzle 106 for release of the grout cleaning solution 110 into the area where the grout brush 107 is in contact with the grout. Directly above the nozzle 106 is shown the solution tube 103 which is connected to the solution container 105 mounted in the mounting bracket 104. A valve means 111 inside the mounting bracket 104 is used to control the release of grout cleaning solution 110 on demand. A wire, cord, string or other connecting means 115 is attached between the solution release trigger 101 and the valve control means 111 to control the release of the grout cleaning solution.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention showing the universal joint detachable brush connector 112 for attaching varying size brushes to the vertical tube 108. The vertical tube 108 contains a depressible pin 114 which snaps into the holes 113 in each side of the universal joint detachable brush connector 112 to allow the pins in vertical tube 108 to snap into the holes in the universal joint detachable brush connector 112.

[0025] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. For instance, different size grout brushes could be attached to the unit to fit varying widths of grout between tile installations. In addition, brushes for tile and other types of floors could also be attached. Also, different solutions could be used for the brush head. 

I claim:
 1. A grout scrubbing apparatus comprising: a) a grout scrubbing brush attached to a universally mounted detachable connector means; b) a universally mounted detachable connecter means connected to the bottom of a vertical shaft; c) a surface capable of acting as a handle connected to the top of a vertical shaft; d) a mounting bracket means attached to the vertical shaft capable of holding a liquid solution container; e) a solution container inserted into the mounting bracket means; f) a communication means to route fluid from the solution container down by gravity to an exit opening nozzle; g) a valve means placed in between the solution container and the exit opening nozzle to control the release of the solution in the solution container to the environment in the vicinity where the grout scrubbing brush contacts the grout surface; h) a valve control means to allow the controlled release of the fluid on demand from the solution container.
 2. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose grout cleaning fluid.
 3. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grout brush is replaced with a cleaning pad.
 4. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 3, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor cleaning solution.
 5. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 3, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor polish solution.
 6. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 3, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor sealing solution.
 7. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 1 comprising: a) a grout scrubbing brush attached to a universal joint detachable brush connector; b) a universal joint detachable brush connector connected to the bottom of a vertical tube; c) a surface capable of acting as a handle connected to the top of a vertical tube; d) a mounting bracket attached to the vertical tube capable of holding a liquid solution container; e) a solution container inserted into the mounting bracket means; f) a solution tube to route fluid from the solution container down by gravity to an exit opening nozzle; g) a valve means placed in between the solution container and the exit opening nozzle to control the release of the solution in the solution container to the environment in the vicinity where the grout scrubbing brush contacts the grout surface; h) a valve control means to allow the controlled release of the fluid on demand from the solution container.
 8. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 7, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose grout cleaning fluid.
 9. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 7, wherein the grout brush is replaced with a soft, cleaning pad.
 10. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 9, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor cleaning solution.
 11. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 9, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor polish solution.
 12. The grout scrubber apparatus of claim 9, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor sealing solution.
 13. A method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them comprising: a) attaching a grout scrubbing brush to a universally mounted detachable connector means; b) connecting a universally mounted detachable connecter to the bottom of a vertical shaft; c) attaching a surface capable of acting as a handle to the top of a vertical shaft; d) attaching a mounting bracket to the vertical shaft capable of holding a liquid solution container; e) inserting a solution container containing general purpose cleaning solution into the mounting bracket means; f) attaching a communication means to route fluid from the solution container down by gravity to an exit opening nozzle; g) inserting a valve means in between the solution container and the exit opening nozzle to control the release of the solution in the solution container to the environment in the vicinity where the grout scrubbing brush contacts the grout surface; h) attaching a valve control means to allow the controlled release of the fluid on demand from the solution container. i) placing the grout scrubbing brush in contact with the grout between a hard floor surface and brushing vigorously while periodically dispensing grout cleaning solution from the exit opening nozzle as needed for maximum cleaning efficiency.
 14. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 13, wherein the grout brush is replaced with a cleaning pad.
 15. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 14, wherein the solution container contains a general purpose floor cleaning solution and the pad is applied to scrub the top of the hard floor surface between the grout in the floor.
 16. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 15, wherein the solution container contains a floor general floor polishing solution.
 17. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 15, wherein the solution container contains a floor sealing solution.
 18. A method for cleaning grout and for caring for hard flooring having grout in it using the grout scrubber of claim 13 wherein: a) a grout scrubbing brush is attached to a universal joint detachable brush connector; b) a universal joint detachable brush connector is connected to the bottom of a vertical tube; c) a surface capable of acting as a handle is connected to the top of a vertical tube; d) a mounting bracket is attached to the vertical tube capable of holding a liquid solution container; e) a solution container containing general purpose grout cleaning fluid is inserted into the mounting bracket means; f) a solution tube is attached to route fluid from the solution container down by gravity to an exit opening nozzle; g) a valve means is placed in between the solution container and the exit opening nozzle to control the release of the solution in the solution container to the environment in the vicinity where the grout scrubbing brush contacts the grout surface; h) a valve control means is attached to the valve means to allow the controlled release of the fluid on demand from the solution container. i) the grout scrubbing brush is placed in contact with the grout between a hard floor surface and brushed vigorously while periodically dispensing grout cleaning solution from the exit opening nozzle as needed for maximum cleaning efficiency.
 19. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 18, wherein the grout brush is replaced with a soft, cleaning pad.
 20. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 19, wherein the solution container contains a floor cleaning solution.
 21. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 19, wherein the solution container contains a floor polish solution.
 22. The method for caring for tile and stone floors having grout in them using the method of claim 19, wherein the solution container contains a floor sealing solution. 